, but were compound ##ed by the mysterious loss offshore of the submarine ae ##1 with all 35 men aboard . the ai ##f departed by ship in a single convoy from albany on 1 november 1914 . during the journey one of the convoy ' s naval escorts — hm ##as sydney — engaged and destroyed the german cruiser sms em ##den at the battle of coco ##s on 8 november , in the first ship @ - @ to @ - @ ship action involving the royal australian navy . although originally bound for england to undergo further training and then for employment on the western front , the australians were instead sent to british @ - @ controlled egypt to pre @ - @ em
, but were compounded by the mysterious loss offshore of the submarine ae1 with all 35 men aboard. the aif departed by ship in a single convoy from albany on 1 november 1914. during the journey one of the convoy's naval escorts — hmas sydney — engaged and destroyed the german cruiser sms emden at the battle of cocos on 8 november, in the first ship @ - @ to @ - @ ship action involving the royal australian navy. although originally bound for england to undergo further training and then for employment on the western front, the australians were instead sent to british @ - @ controlled egypt to pre @ - @ em